Why I gave up wheat

jumpybeans
jumpybeans Posts: 71 Member
edited November 22 in Food and Nutrition
Bear with me, I realize the errors of my ways...

I became somewhat interested in the whole wheat allergy/intolerance thing awhile ago. I gave up wheat. I lost a lot of weight. The things I thought would be better from giving up wheat stayed the same.

So cutting wheat was supposed to cut anxiety, depression, help you sleep better, be less irritable, etc. I was still irritable and slept like crap.

Yes, I'm afraid to add wheat back into my diet because I've cut it for so long and I'm afraid I'll gain weight. I've already gained it all back anyways (due to other bad habits). I'm not keen on eating carbs in the first place, but I do like to have a cheeseburger once in a blue moon (or whatever it may be).

But, I realize there's way more to this. For starters, I can't sustain a diet that has no wheat ever, ever, EVER again. Secondly, my weight gain/irritability/poor sleep/etc - could this perhaps be caused by the fact I DID NOT EXERCISE AT ALL? Me thinks so. Finally, I didn't understand the whole calorie in/calorie out thing. Wouldn't a well-rounded diet plan make more sense? Yes.

I am stopping the madness right now. I'm fully aware that there are true diagnosed allergies and conditions out there, but I'm not blaming the wheat anymore. I'm blaming my inactive lifestyle, overall poor eating habits and desire to lose a lot of weight quickly.

Replies

  • umayster
    umayster Posts: 651 Member
    Just blame the carbs, it works better!


    (Living the low carb life and loving it!)
  • IsaackGMOON
    IsaackGMOON Posts: 3,358 Member
    You'll gain weight from a caloric deficit... it's as simple as that. You probably lost water weight after cutting wheat; you'll gain some back with the re-introduction of it.

    If you have sleep problems, it's really a good idea to go to your doctor instead of consulting an internet forum - it's common sense.
  • jumpybeans
    jumpybeans Posts: 71 Member
    Okay....
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    Get checked for sleep apnea. Undiagnosed sleep apnea can contribute to weight gain due to stress. Worth checking out.

    Yes, regular exercise does help me sleep better.

    To get used to calorie counting, use the MFP calculator to determine your calorie target for the day. Then get used to weighing and recording all your food. That should be an eye-opener in itself in the course of two weeks. Once you are used to logging, come back for specific advice.

    If you are going to re-incorporate wheat in your diet, I suggest you do it slowly so you won't be discouraged from temporary water weight gain by re-introducing carbs.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    Did you just cut wheat, or did you cut all grains? If you only cut wheat but still ate other grains you probably won't experience water weight gain, unless you significantly increase carbs.

    Sounds like you have a good plan. I'd suggest also looking at stress reducing techniques as stress can cause sleep disruption, and less stress is always a good thing.

    Best of luck to you!
  • jumpybeans
    jumpybeans Posts: 71 Member
    I didn't cut other grains, just wheat.

    Thanks for the advice!
  • melimomTARDIS
    melimomTARDIS Posts: 1,941 Member
    you tried something, it wasnt for you. trial and error is how we learn!
  • schooby2
    schooby2 Posts: 20 Member
    Need2Exerc1se wrote: »
    Did you just cut wheat, or did you cut all grains? If you only cut wheat but still ate other grains you probably won't experience water weight gain, unless you significantly increase carbs.

    Sounds like you have a good plan. I'd suggest also looking at stress reducing techniques as stress can cause sleep disruption, and less stress is always a good thing.

    Best of luck to you!

    I agree that you should kook at all grains. Read "Wheat Belly: Total Health" and it will discuss why that is important and some tips for when the weight won't come off. I believe you are right on track being aware that calories and exercise to maintain/improve muscle mass are important. Good luck!
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    Calories in, calories out isn't really a diet. It's just the concept behind how we gain, lose or maintain weight. You can eat a balanced diet and still appreciate that calories have something to do with what you weigh. If you want to be your healthiest, eat healthy foods.

    Some people do really well on low-carb diets. I do really well on a high-carb diet. It's just a personal preference thing. Go with the amount of carbs you want, just watch your calories. :)

    If you haven't seen your doctor about this stuff, you should. Everyone should see a doctor when beginning a weight loss journey.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    edited July 2015
    Kalikel wrote: »
    Calories in, calories out isn't really a diet. It's just the concept behind how we gain, lose or maintain weight.

    Agree.
    You can eat a balanced diet and still appreciate that calories have something to do with what you weigh. If you want to be your healthiest, eat healthy foods.

    That's why most of us who promote flexible dieting or point out that calories are what matter for weight loss also strongly recommend that people eat a nutritious diet!
    Some people do really well on low-carb diets. I do really well on a high-carb diet. It's just a personal preference thing. Go with the amount of carbs you want, just watch your calories. :)

    Yup.
    If you haven't seen your doctor about this stuff, you should. Everyone should see a doctor when beginning a weight loss journey.

    Eh, good to see one's doctor regularly, but I didn't see a doctor when I took the actions that led to my weight gain, so I never understood why eating sensibly with a calorie deficit should require seeing a doctor (and my doctor seemed to agree with me when I did see her). The idea that we need professional help to figure out a basic human function like eating has always seemed wrong to me. But then I did a pretty boring "just eat sensibly, focus on getting balanced, nutritous food, exercise a little more (increased gradually), and lose 1-2 lb/week kind of thing" and not a "journey." :-) (I did take a vacation this year, though!)
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    I had a bad day last week where I was literally vibrating from the stress of a new assignment at work. I used a mindful meditation recording to calm me down. It worked.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p_yaNFSYao
  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
    OP read this: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p1
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    jumpybeans wrote: »
    I became somewhat interested in the whole wheat allergy/intolerance thing awhile ago. I gave up wheat. I lost a lot of weight. The things I thought would be better from giving up wheat stayed the same.

    I think experimenting is a fine thing to have done. I gave up grains for a while too, out of curiosity, and decided it didn't seem to matter for me either. So now I eat them again.
    Yes, I'm afraid to add wheat back into my diet because I've cut it for so long and I'm afraid I'll gain weight.

    You won't gain weight if (a) you don't increase calories, and (b) you don't increase your carbs a bunch. If you do increase carbs a bunch you may gain water weight in the short term, but that's not really meaningful.

    If I were you I'd probably log for a week or two to see how I was currently eating and then add back the wheat while keeping calories constant (or cutting them if you want to lose, of course).
    I'm not keen on eating carbs in the first place, but I do like to have a cheeseburger once in a blue moon (or whatever it may be).

    You know carbs is a huge category, right? Anything from non-starchy vegetables, fruit, beans and lentils, tubers like potatoes, more starchy veg like carrots and parsnips and winter squash, as well as grains and, of course, sugars. But in any case I think how many carbs work for people is a matter of personal preference, as Kalikel said.
    Finally, I didn't understand the whole calorie in/calorie out thing. Wouldn't a well-rounded diet plan make more sense? Yes.

    There's nothing inconsistent between saying that a balanced, nutritious diet is best for health and that calories (and overall energy balance) is what matters for weight loss. I can eat a healthy diet with a calorie deficit, at maintenance, and with a calorie surplus.

    Anyway, good luck!
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    Kalikel wrote: »
    Calories in, calories out isn't really a diet. It's just the concept behind how we gain, lose or maintain weight.

    Agree.
    You can eat a balanced diet and still appreciate that calories have something to do with what you weigh. If you want to be your healthiest, eat healthy foods.

    That's why most of us who promote flexible dieting or point out that calories are what matter for weight loss also strongly recommend that people eat a nutritious diet!
    Some people do really well on low-carb diets. I do really well on a high-carb diet. It's just a personal preference thing. Go with the amount of carbs you want, just watch your calories. :)

    Yup.
    If you haven't seen your doctor about this stuff, you should. Everyone should see a doctor when beginning a weight loss journey.

    Eh, good to see one's doctor regularly, but I didn't see a doctor when I took the actions that led to my weight gain, so I never understood why eating sensibly with a calorie deficit should require seeing a doctor (and my doctor seemed to agree with me when I did see her). The idea that we need professional help to figure out a basic human function like eating has always seemed wrong to me. But then I did a pretty boring "just eat sensibly, focus on getting balanced, nutritous food, exercise a little more (increased gradually), and lose 1-2 lb/week kind of thing" and not a "journey." :-) (I did take a vacation this year, though!)

    People understand why it's a good idea to see the dentist even when they don't have a toothache. Same reason to see a doctor when you aren't sick. Things that could turn into major problems may be caught when they're still minor ones and be fixed. Everything gets checked. Etc.

    People who only see a doctor when they are sick are being fools.

    Many a life has been saved or lost based on whether people take as good care of themselves as they do their cars and their teeth.

    If your doctor discourages check ups, then it guess you should either stay out of the doctor's office until you're sick or get a new doctor who thinks it's a good idea for people to pay attention to their health. I'd advise the latter, but it's totally up to you and impacts my health in no way.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    edited July 2015
    Kalikel wrote: »
    People understand why it's a good idea to see the dentist even when they don't have a toothache. Same reason to see a doctor when you aren't sick.

    I didn't say you shouldn't see the doctor when you aren't sick. I said the opposite--that it's good to see one's doctor regularly. (I believe once/year for the average person, plus various regular tests and all that.)

    Therefore, not sure why you are arguing with something I did not say.
    If your doctor discourages check ups

    ??? It's more polite to respond to what I actually said, you know.
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    edited July 2015
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    Kalikel wrote: »
    People understand why it's a good idea to see the dentist even when they don't have a toothache. Same reason to see a doctor when you aren't sick.

    I didn't say you shouldn't see the doctor when you aren't sick. I said the opposite--that it's good to see one's doctor regularly. (I believe once/year for the average person, plus various regular tests and all that.)

    Therefore, not sure why you are arguing with something I did not say.
    If your doctor discourages check ups

    ??? It's more polite to respond to what I actually said, you know.
    I apologize. It sounded to me like your doctor was discouraging you from visiting by saying you didn't need to be there. I'm sincerely pleased to hear that it wasn't the case and that I got it wrong. :)

    A doctor that discourages check ups, honestly, sounds like a bad doctor...and a rotten person, lol. People can blow it off and not be rotten - they just don't know any better. Doctors, on the other hand, have seen people die that wouldn't have died if they'd just had their check ups, so a doctor who discourages it...yikes. Bad person. Didn't want to say that if you really liked them and they were discouraging a visit!

    Possibly the happiest I've ever been to be wrong! :)
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